Out & About November 2017

November 2017

West Berkshire, North Hampshire & East Wiltshire

A Newbury News Ltd publication

The hill forts that surround Newbury

In stitches Two ladies turn their sewing skills into business

Time changer St Bartholomew’s alms house clock restored

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WELCOME to the November issue of OUT&ABOUT I have a theory that November is actually a magic month that just

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disappears – you’re getting used to autumn in October and the next thing you know it’s December and Christmas mayhem ensues. So, in an effort to slow things down a bit, we’ve gone all historical. I go back to the Iron Age and the hill forts around Newbury (p14) and David Pratley gets things ticking as he restores the St Bartholomew’s alms house clock (p22). Talking of time, we all know a stitch in it, saves nine – we meet two seamstresses who have used their sewing skills to set up businesses from their homes (p39). In a nod to November, we’ve rounded up a few warming bonfire treats (p26), James Allen has some reasonably priced tipples to stock up on (p37) and because we know the party season isn’t far off, we’ve selected a few ‘lbds’ (little black dresses) from the high street (p10).You can win tickets to the first Liquor Festival at Newbury Racecourse, on November 18 and there’s four pages of events – so November must exist! Enjoy OUT&ABOUT EDITOR: GERALDINE GARDNER (01635) 886684 geraldine.gardner@newburynews.co.uk

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Regulars

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Jonathan Hopson enjoys the spectacular views around the area Fitness: no more excuses – Vicki Brown encourages ‘can’ not ‘can’t’ Health & beauty: enjoy the revitalising treatments at Natura Spa Travel: some quick getaways for a few winter rays of sunshine Gardening: the viola brings some much-needed colour to the winter Antiques: vintage handbags for your gladrags Books: hold on to your hats, Helen Sheehan and Lissa Gibbins say The River at Night is a white-knuckle read Motoring: Maurice and Annette Hardy take on the Renegade Jeep Interiors: kitchen islands come in all shapes and sizes Fashion: a selection of the fail-safe little black dress from the high street

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Out&About

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November 2017

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TO ADVERTISE IN OUT&ABOUT Abigail Reddin. (01635) 886612 abigail.reddin@ newburynews.co.uk

Features

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Fishy favourite halibut is a fish-lovers delight says Simon Rhodes Purrfect pub grub Carole Elgueta revisits The Rampant Cat, Woolton Hill Bonfire bonanza marshmallow treats and comforting soups to warm you up Keeping it fresh Romilla Arber digs out some tasty facts on seasonal vegetables Top tipples some recommendations from James Allen to stock up on for the festive season for under £10 Sew‘n’sew two ladies with very different styles have set up businesses from home Matter of time David Pratley explains how he restored the St Bartholomew’s alms house turret clock The hills are alive Geraldine Gardner digs up a bit of history on the hill forts surrounding Newbury Food & drink

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GROUP EDITOR: ANDY MURRILL (01635) 886625 andy.murrill@newburynews.co.uk Production design: Carrie Faithfull, Helen Layton, Tim Silvester Published on Thursday, October 26 free with the Newbury Weekly News. The December issue of OUT&ABOUT will be published on November 23, 2017 Deadline for listings for the December issue is: Tuesday, November 7. Email details to: report@newburynews.co.uk (subject line ‘what’s on’) OUT&ABOUT is published by Newbury News Ltd, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2DW

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What’s on

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Nature: bee kind to the busy honey makers Four pages of listings on where to go and what to see and do this month

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Competition

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Love Liquor: win tickets to the Liquor Festival at Newbury Racecourse

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OA comment

enjoys the delights of hilltop walking and cycling on the Hampshire/Berkshire borders Jonathan Hopson

W ith the highest points in Hampshire (Pilot Hill 286 metres) and Berkshire (Walbury Hill 297 meters), both located a few miles south of Newbury, walkers and cyclists are fortunate to have a varied selection of interesting routes to explore in the local area. Pilot Hill is on the Wayfarers Walk, a 71-mile trail from Inkpen Beacon to Emsworth on the south coast that includes a number of other well-known local landmarks, including Walbury and Ladle Hills and Watership Down. On a clear day, the views from the top of Pilot Hill are stunning and there are often a number of birds of prey wheeling in the breeze, including buzzards and kites. *Walbury Hill is popular with walkers and cyclists alike and many people choose to also take in Combe Gibbet, which is close by. Keen cyclists wishing to stretch themselves can try the annual Walbury Hill Climb (www.walburyhillclimb.co.uk), organised by Newbury Road Club. This year’s race took place on October 3, and I summoned sufficient courage to compete in the informal ‘Come and Try It’ event that took place before the main race, managing to record a time of 7m 58s. To put this into context, the main race this year was won in the extremely fast time of 4m 11s – the course record is held by Tejvan Pettinger in an insanely quick time of 3m 47s. Put another way, cycling up Walbury Hill in under four minutes necessitates an average speed of around 18mph, a speed which the majority of keen cyclists would be happy to maintain on the flat. The Walbury Hill Climb is a very well organised event – the local roads are closed for the duration – with good camaraderie among the cyclists and a great opportunity for a post-event get-together for competitors and supporters in the excellent Crown & Garter pub in Inkpen. I’m planning to be there at next year’s event and will be delighted to complete the 1.15-mile long course in anything under seven minutes.

Wayfarer’s walk looking north over East Woodhay

View looking west from Ladle Hill towards Sidown and Beacon Hills

Behind Pilot Hill looking east towards Faccombe wind turbine

For more about Walbury Hill, see Hill Forts feature on p14

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OA fitness

Most people can easily convince themselves that they can’t do something because... VICKI BROWN gets candid and perhaps a little cruel to be kind, as the old saying goes, and points out that there are no reasons why you can’t adopt a healthier lifestyle

I n all aspects of life, many of us will make excuses as to why we haven’t or can’t do something. Of course, there are always ‘excuses’ or things crop up that we can’t avoid, but I know there is usually an alternative. It may even be that the excuse is a reason to say you can’t when in fact you can. I want to help find some solutions to some of the most common excuses: Excuse: I don’t have the time to workout. Solution: You need to prioritise a little time each week. People often think that a workout needs to take 1-2 hours every day. This is not true. In just a few minutes you can have a great workout, use your body, get your cardiovascular system going and feel great. If you break down 24 hours into the work, sleep, travelling and eating that you have to do, it is likely that you will find there is a little spare time if you plan it for exercise. If you were to add how much time each day you spend on social media or watching the extra episodes of the latest boxset and used a few of those minutes to workout instead, you would feel much better for it and most likely start to feel fitter, stronger and healthier if you keep it up. Excuse: I don’t have the time to eat healthily. Solution: You need to be prepared. If you prepare by having the right food in your fridge, freezer and cupboards, eating healthy can be super quick. A quick and nutritious breakfast – such as eggs or porridge – can be cooked in under five minutes, or precook food the night before.

Prepare your lunch in advance so you don’t miss out. As for dinner, as Jamie Oliver has demonstrated in his many cook books, there are numerous dinners that can be cooked in less than 15 minutes. If sometimes you can’t prepare, it is much easier nowadays to go into a shop and make good choices and still have a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Excuse: It’s too expensive to eat well and/or have personal training. Solution: You need to consider all your costs. When you see how much personal training and healthy food costs, it can seem extravagant. Calculate how much you spend on food currently, including takeaways, coffees and alcohol. If you stopped buying those things as frequently, you will find the healthier food will cost little more than you were already spending on other items. Few things are more important than health, and the food that you eat and movement that you do plays a big part in that. The knowledge that you can gain from a fitness professional can last a lifetime. Excuse: It’s too dark and cold to go out for a workout/walk/run now the clocks have changed. Solution: You can exercise at another time of day or somewhere different. There are many alternatives that allow you to regularly workout. You can go out for a walk at lunchtime or complete a workout at lunchtime. If you prefer working out in the evening, and you normally workout outside during the summer months, it may be worth joining a gym over the winter period.

Another alternative is you can workout at home, whether it’s a HIIT workout in your living room, getting on the treadmill, bike or rower that you got last Christmas or doing a weights routine that you can follow weekly, give another option a try. As a personal trainer, it is my goal to help people feel happier, stronger and more confident in themselves. I know the importance of making good choices each day to achieve results and this often begins with realising what is holding you back and finding a solution. I hope that this is food for thought, because once the excuses stop, things start getting done and the results can be exciting. I guess it comes down to how much you want it. So, stop making the excuses, find your solutions and start achieving the goals that you have set yourself today.

Motivate.Believe.Achieve Personal trainer Vicki Brown is the founder of LiveFitNow, based in Wash Common. For a free consultation, more information and links to online home fitness videos, visit: www.LiveFitNow.co.uk

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OA health & beauty

As the winter nights draw in and there is a chill in the air, now is a good time for a bit of pampering in preparation for the December festivities. Natura Spa, at Inglewood Manor, Kintbury, offers treatments in majestic settings, giving you the opportunity to nurture your mind, body, and soul Revitalise Your Senses

THE CONCEPT Natura Spa offers signature treatments, allowing guests to embrace simple luxuries through their wide array of relaxing professional treatments. Their experienced and professional staff believe in individual treatment and will work with you to understand and meet your needs. Whether you are new to massage and skin care treatments or a long-time wellness enthusiast, their treatments are crafted to enhance your senses, inner serenity and overall well-being. Natura Spa creates a safe, relaxed place for pampering, relaxation and healing to occur. There is something for everyone, whether you are looking for beauty maintenance, couples retreat or pure pampering bliss, come and explore the variety of beauty and spa treatments available, six days a week. Natura Spa Packages include complimentary use of Inglewood’s facilities. Make the most of you time and relax in the new sauna and maximise the benefits of your spa treatments. Let the heat release the tension from your aching muscles and forget about your every day worries.

LAVISH TREATMENTS The best journey in life is the journey back to yourself. Take a well-deserved break from the stresses of your busy day to focus on you. With a full- range of professional treatments and state- of-the-art facilities, Natura Spa is the ultimate rejuvenating and relaxing experience. SIGNATURE SPA AND BEAUTY SERVICESWAITING FORYOU They offer a wide range of therapeutic services designed to relax, pamper and improve your well-being. Choose from their menu of spa and beauty treatments. FACE TREATMENTS Try a Dermalogica Spa Facial and it will be the moment your skin changes forever. It will never have felt as clean and healthy as after one of these professional spa treatments, using science combined with nature to give you the best results. There is no lanolin, mineral oil, artificial fragrance or colour. Dermalogica pride themselves on not just quality products but prescriptive products to suit every skin condition.

BODY TREATMENTS It’s inevitable that the stresses and strains of everyday life will occasionally drag you down. The huge range of stress-busting, detoxifying body treatments, can help you boost your body and mind during Natura Spa treatments. Whether you want to treat your skin to an invigorating treatment or soothe tired muscles with a relaxing massage, there is everything you could wish for from massage to body wraps and body exfoliation. LUXURY BEAUTY Manicures, Pedicures, Waxing, Eye Treatments and More... Natura Spa also offers a wide variety of quality beauty treatments in luxury surroundings, including manicures, pedicures, waxing, eye treatments and more. Make your beauty maintenance something you enjoy – not a chore. SPA PACKAGES You can choose from a range of packages at Natura Spa, but all spa days come with use of the facilities – swimming pool, sauna and robes. For an extra treat include Prosecco in your package for just £5pp or Champagne for £10pp.

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Necklace, £19 Accessorise

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of it

The LBD – little black dress – has long been a staple item in many a wardrobe. You get a last-minute invite, you throw on the black dress, bling it up and hey presto you’re good to go. If you’re looking to update your ‘old faithful’, then here’s a selection available on the high street – long and short – with a few jewellery items to add a bit of sparkle

Earrings, £9.50, M&S

Dress, £75, Ben de Lisi

Dress, £160, Debenhams

Earrings, £14, Debenhams

Dress, £80, Debut

Dress, £149, Monsoon

Necklace, £14.99, TK Maxx

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OA on the high street

Necklace, £18, Debenhams

Dress, £85, Debenhams

Earrings, £18, Debenhams

Earrings, £16.99, TK Maxx

Dress, £80, River Island

Dress, £149, Mint Velvet

Earrings, £12.99, TK Maxx

Earrings, £9.50, M&S

Dress, £139, Monsoon

Necklace, £17, Accessorise

Dress, £89, M&S

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Sometimes you already have it, explains Yvonne Eaton of Coco & Co, a designer dress agency based in Hungerford. A little black dress can be accessorised with any colour to match the occasion . Black dresses often have the perfect fit, but can seem dark and dull next to the sparkle of Christmas. How do we bring your outfit to life and up to date?… ‘with an array of different colours , black can give the perfect base for eye popping reds and metallics and other exciting statement pieces’ – see some of the items Yvonne has picked out. It is really up to you to experiment , however if you want some advice or to delve into a world of perfect party colours visit Coco & Co, Bridge St, Hungerford. Tel. 01488 686319. And it’s not just Christmas Yvonne is well versed in colour matching for any occasion…. She also has a range or designer dresses and jewellery for you to dive into! STUCK FOR WHAT TO WEAR AT YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY?

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For Perfectly Posh founder Krysia Eddery, the move to the former Gentlemen’s Shop at 29-30 Charnham Street is especially poetic, as it was where she first worked when her hairdressing career brought her to Hungerford. Krysia commented: “This will be the third time Perfectly Posh has moved within Hungerford to meet growing demand and I cannot think of a more fabulous and historic building to pamper our clients and increase our beauty offering. Our loyal clientele are just as excited as the team and we are meeting new people all the time who have decided to get Perfectly Posh.

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The seven hills of Newbury Never mind the seven hills of Rome, did you know that Newbury is actually surrounded by at least seven ancient hill forts? GERALDINE GARDNER didn’t, so she delves into the archives and finds out more, with help from Sarah Orr of West Berkshire Council’s archaeology department forts

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OA feature

hill fort / noun a fort built on a hill, in particular an area on a hilltop enclosed by a system of defensive banks and ditches, as used by Iron Age peoples in NW Europe

Artist’s impression of Grimsbury Castle Mike Codd for West Berkshire Council

Artist’s impression of Walbury Camp Mike Codd for the former Berkshire County Council

T his article started because someone tweeted something about Grimsbury Castle near Hermitage and I confess I had never heard of it and thought they must have got their wires crossed. A swift Google told me that Grimsbury Castle is indeed in Hermitage and is one of at least seven hill forts surrounding Newbury. Although there is no ‘castle’ there as such, there is enough archaeological evidence to show the existence of an ancient hill fort. As a complete novice to all things Iron Age and this startling discovery that Rome may have its hills, but Newbury has its hill forts, I did a little metaphorical digging of my own and hope that for some readers at least this may be as new to Built in the Iron Age, 750BC to 43AD, hillforts were generally in defensible positions, but had a variety of uses, from settlements to food stores, refuges to meeting places and perhaps religious centres. Not necessarily exciting to the layman, it is the sheer scale of these momuments that makes them so impressive and the massive them as it was to me. What is a hill fort?

community effort that must have gone in to constructing them. They help historians and archaeologists to piece together an invaluable insight into the life and times of our forebears. Hill forts vary in size and shape, but are a definining part of the landscape. Some are merely fields where livestock were kept, while others cover vast acres, with undulating borders, shaping the high ramparts and deep trenches. The two most common type of hill forts are the contour fort – which has a bank and ditch dug along the contour line surrounding high ground and the promontory fort, where the fort is positioned on a spur of land that has its own natural defences. There are others as well, including those on flat land, where it is thought stock was kept. The forts could be univallate – ie one banked- and-ditched enclosure – to multivallate, with three or more banks. Whatever the style of the fort, it was defended by ramparts, which can be traced today along the banks and ditches that form its shape. The palisades that are likely to have been on the top of the banks no longer exist, but were

made of wood, stone or earth. It is thought they would have been constructed using picks and wooden spades, with baskets to transfer the rubble and soil. Amateur archaeologist Eric Wood estimated that it would have taken 150 men about four months to fortify an eight-acre enclosure with just one single bank and ditch. From various excavations, it seems that the Iron Age dwellers’ weapon of choice was the sling shot – a remarkably accurate and deadly weapon with a range of 200m to 350m. Other artefacts discovered in the hill fort areas, including razors, mirror fragments, pins and brooches – gives an insight into life during the Iron Age, up to the time of the Roman Invasion around 43AD. There are thought to be more than 3,000 hill forts in the British Isles, although they are not evenly distributed. The largest concentration is in the south and west, especially Wales. The significance of hill forts has led organisations to campaign for their preservation for posterity – the National Trust currently owns and maintains about 79 hill fort sites in the UK. Listed over are the seven significant sites around Newbury, only three of which are on public land. 

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Aerial view showing the shape of Grimsbury Castle hill fort

Grimsbury Castle folly, 1905

With public access GRIMSBURY CASTLE HERMITAGE

Although nothing remains of any kind of building, it is clear to archaeologists that a fort once stood there and there is a defined area which shows the shape of the defence building. It is now almost entirely covered in trees, many of which were replanted in the 1950s. It is thought that Grimsbury was a ‘multiple enclosure’ hillfort occupied certainly between the thrid and second centuries BC. Triangular in shape it has three entrances and covers about eight acres. One of the entrances clearly led to a spring, to supply water to the fort. The name Grimsbury, is a nod to the chief

of the Saxon gods, Woden, also known as Grim. So impressed were the Saxons by the structure, that they believed Grim must have had a hand in its construction. Access to the land, which is on the Eling Estate, is via permissive paths, clearly marked. This leaflet, produced by the West Berkshire Countryside Society, lists the walks in the area www.westberkscountryside.org.uk/ Hermitage%20Parish%20Paths.pdf WALBURY CAMP Nr COMBE Walbury Camp is actually located on the

Walking through Fence Wood, between Hermitage and Cold Ash, you could be forgiven for not realising that you are actually in the middle of an ancient hill fort, dating back to the Iron Age. Grimsbury Castle, as it is known, was buiilt on a plateau overlooking the Kennet and Pang valleys. It benefits from having a natural spring, which has apparently never run dry.

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OA feature

PERBOROUGH CASTLE COMPTON

highest chalk hill in the UK – maybe even Europe, although this has not been verified. it is also the largest hill fort in Berkshire. Situated between Inkpen and Combe Hill, the fort covers more than 80 acres and the markings show it was kite-shaped. It had a single bank and ditch and two entrances. The fort is univallate and the top of the edge is about 16ft above the ditch. Walbury Camp is the starting point for the Test Way and the Wayfarers Walks and there is a footpath across the middle of the camp. It is popular with both walkers and cyclists. ( see Jonathan Hopson p5 ) The Berkshire-Hampshire border used to run through Walbury Camp and along the top of the Combe Gibbet long barrow – Combe parish became part of Berkshire in 1895. MEMBURY CAMP Situated on the high valleys between the Kennet and Lambourn, this hill fort lies for the most part within Wiltshire, but the north-east part is in Berkshire. The eastern part is wooded and is known as Walls Copse and used to extend about 250m eastwards, until Membury airfield was built. Beginners to Intermediates new Art Class 45"354 400/! Bring out your inner artist Beginners to Intermediates

Thought to be one of the earlier Iron Age forts, Perborough Castle is difficult to spot because agricultural erosion, particularly through extensive ploughing after the Second World War, has worn its shape away. A circular fort, it is recorded as having included deep pits and ponds. Several ‘cellars’ were said to have been found, containing burnt corn, while a number of Roman coins have also been dug – including 500 found in an earthenware jar.

Aerial view showing the shape of Membury Camp

On private land BOROUGH HILL CAMP NEWBURY

One of the smaller forts, covering a little more than half-an-acre, there is still some debate over whether or not this was actually a hill fort. Archaeologist Dr S Palmer mentioned the discovery of Iron Age pottery, but nobody knows where those finds are. In 1837, Alwyn Cotton states that the banks and ditches are clearly defined, but in 1963 an Ordnance Survey investigator was of the opinion that the field boundary and some sand diggings did not necessarily indicate a hill fort. It disappeared from OS maps after 1974

Aerial view showing the shape of Burrough Hill Camp

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN THE SELF-BUILD REVOLUTION?

A survey commissioned by the Building Societies Association (BSA), published in 2011, suggested that 53% of people in the UK would consider building their own home. ,W¶V QRW GLI¿FXOW WR VHH ZK\ VHOI EXLOGHUV FDQ RIWHQ VDYH XS WR RI WKH FRVW RI EX\LQJ DQ H[LVWLQJ KRPH DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH 1DWLRQDO &XVWRP 6HOI %XLOG $VVRFLDWLRQ ,Q WKHRU\ WKLV PHDQV WKH DYHUDJH VHOI EXLOG EHGURRP KRPH ZRXOG FRVW… WR EXLOG LQVWHDG RI… WR EX\ 6HOI EXLOGHUV FDQ EH WKRVH ZKR DOUHDG\ RZQ D SORW RI ODQG DWWDFKHG WR WKHLU FXUUHQW KRPH RU WKRVH ZKR SXUFKDVH D SORW RI ODQG WR EXLOG RQ )XUWKHUPRUH VHOI EXLOGLQJ GRHV QRW DOZD\V PHDQ \RX KDYH WR PRYH LQWR WKH SURSHUW\ RQFH LW LV FRPSOHWHG LW LV TXLWH FRPPRQ IRU VHOI EXLOGHUV WR EXLOG D KRPH IRU LQYHVWPHQW SXUSRVHV DQG UHQW LW RXW 1. Finding a plot of land - ,I \RX DOUHDG\ RZQ WKH SORW DV SDUW RI \RXU FXUUHQW SURSHUW\ \RX ZLOO QHHG WR DSSRLQW D VROLFLWRU WR VHSDUDWH LW IURP WKH UHPDLQLQJ SURSHUW\ ,I \RX LQWHQG WR GR WKLV DQG \RX KDYH DQ H[LVWLQJ PRUWJDJH RQ \RXU FXUUHQW KRPH \RX ZLOO QHHG WR JDLQ WKH DJUHHPHQW IURP \RXU FXUUHQW OHQGHU WR UHPRYH DQ HOHPHQW RI WKH ODQG IURP WKHLU VHFXULW\ 2. Design & planning - ,I EXLOGLQJ RQ D SORW \RX RZQ RU \RX ZLVK WR PDNH DQ\ FKDQJHV WR SUH H[LVWLQJ SHUPLVVLRQV \RX ZLOO QHHG WR DSSO\ WR \RXU ORFDO DXWKRULW\ IRU SODQQLQJ SHUPLVVLRQ ,W LV LPSRUWDQW DW WKLV SRLQW WR KDYH WKH GHVLJQ RI WKH SURSHUW\ \RX ZLVK WR EXLOG $SSRLQWLQJ D TXDOL¿HG DUFKLWHFW ZLOO KHOS HQVXUH WKH GHVLJQ RI WKH SURSHUW\ ZLOO VDWLVI\ SODQQLQJ UHTXLUHPHQWV If you are one of the 53% who has considered building a home, here are four main points to consider:

3. Finding the right builder -

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BUSSOCK CAMP SOUTH OF CHIEVELEY This hill fort is 2.3 miles to the south of

Hill to take in the commanding view across the Berkshire/Hampshire borders. Perhaps next time you are up there, you will be reminded of the Iron Age warriors, who nearly 3000 years ago stood on that very same spot and were able to defend their territory from such a vantage point. There is so much information out there about these ancient sites, including https://hillforts. arch.ox.ac.uk/, it is impossible to convey how significant they are. This feature gives just a taster, but if you want to know more a good starting point is information from West Berkshire Council’s archaeological department, which is concerned with preserving, protecting and promoting the historic environment. For more on what they do and the resources they have, visit www. westberks.gov.uk/archaeology They also have a presence on the newer West Berkshire Heritage website www.westberkshireheritage.org.uk – which gives much more information on the range of activities and events at Shaw House and the museum as well as locally. Thanks too, to Henry Rothwell from Digital Digging, for permission to use the aerial shots showing the camp shapes. www.digitaldigging.net

Newbury and covers about 10-11 acres. It lies in the middle of a wood and is not quite circular in shape. At one time, two sides of the defences were thought to be between 12 and 20 feet, but gravel quarrying has eroded that depth. (Occasionally open to the public under the National Garden Scheme) CAESAR’S CAMP EASTHAMPSTEAD, Nr BRACKNELL This is one of the most distinctively-shaped hill forts in the country, resembling an oak leaf, because its contours follow every valley rigidly along its 400ft length. It has entrances to the north, south, east and west and is thought to date from 1BC. It was named Caesar’s Camp in the 18th century, but was originally known as Windmill Fort after the old mill that once stood there. Outside West Berkshire, it is possible to visit the Caesar’s Camp. For more information, www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/parks-and- countryside/parks-visit/caesars-camp This is not an exhaustive list of hill forts in the area. Many people will have climbed Beacon

Aerial view showing the shape of Caesar’s Camp

Aerial view showing the shape of Bussock Camp

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2 3

5

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Newbury

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1 Walbury Camp 2 Membury Camp

3 Burrough Hill Camp 4 Perborough Castle

5 Bussock Camp 6 Grimsbury Castle

7 Caesar’s Camp

Aerial shots © Copyright Googlemaps 2017

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Donate to us, volunteer with us or buy from us Telephone 01635 43933 enquiries@cfpnewbury.org www.n-c-r-c.org The ‘Furniture Project’ does a lot more than move sofas around!!!!! Whilst you may know us for our work in furniture and electrical reuse, you may not know about our other work in helping local people. We help many people with disabilities to take an active part in their community as volunteers. In addition we also provide a wide range of activities and training opportunities to help support local people into employment. We are always happy to receive visitors to our projects. If you would like a guided tour of training facilities at our Bone Lane site, learn more about the work of our charity and how you can become involved please email enquiries@cfpnewbury.org to arrange a time for you to visit.

Newbury Community Resource Centre (Registered Charity no. 1082243) Operators of The Community Furniture Project (Newbury),The Community Furniture Project (Basingstoke), The Growing Together Project, Pulling Together and the RENEWAL Project.

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Good timing St Bartholomew’s Hospital Alms Houses turret clock has recently undergone a complete restoration. Retired engineer and clock enthusiast DAVID PRATLEY, who carried out the work on the mechanism, writes about the challenges involved in restoring the clock to its former glory and keeping it going for many years to come A bit of history The St Bartholomew’s Hospital Alms Houses clock is thought to be one of the oldest turret clocks in England. The original building is reputed to have been founded by King John in the 13th century, and was originally intended to house priests and poor brothers. It was, at that time, referred to as King John Almshouses. The actual alms houses date from 1698 and were reconstructed from an earlier building of 1618. Newbury was a prosperous town in the years from 1690 to 1840, mainly due to it being halfway between London and Bath and also en route north to south with a crossing over the river. Visitors through the town brought great wealth to the area. There were at least 12 coaching inns here and some like the Chequers, Bacon Arms and the Queens still exist today. There were also at least 70 clock and watch makers working in and around the Newbury area during this period. Seven of them had premises in Northbrook Street and several others are listed as working in Bartholomew Street and Cheap Street, with one in the Arcade, which was originally called Whirlegig Lane. We know the Bartholomew Clock dates from at least 1698 and it is quite possible that it is even older, as there is evidence that the clock originally had a verge and foliot escapement, which is the earliest type of escapement. The diamond-shape dial would almost certainly have only had a single hand due to its shape and also the early age of the clock. It is unfortunate that we are not able to ascertain who actually made the clock, but it is quite obvious that it is entirely blacksmith-made. The hammer marks and the marking out of the teeth positions on the gears etc, can be clearly seen. As a matter of interest, blacksmiths who acquired these particular skills, were known as whitesmiths. Not surprisingly, a clock of this age has had alterations and repairs over the years, which include the conversion from the verge/foliot escapement mechanism to a pendulum. In my opinion, this conversion was either the work of Thomas Crofts or John Joyce, since both of these Newbury watch and clock makers were involved in making and repairing turret clocks, hence the job

Those involved Richard Papworth, chairman of trustees. Chris Hardy and father Dave. Sign writer Paul Hetherton, Froxfield, Clock winder Stephen Barnes, Dave Pratley.

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and it’s just amazing that the winding mechanisms still worked. The shaft was set up in the lathe and skimmed to remove the wear and housing was made to suit the

of converting the escapement to a pendulum would have been well within their capabilities. There are very few verge-foliot clocks still in existence. There is one at Cotehele House near Saltash, Cornwall, which is completely original. You will also find one in the nave of Salisbury Cathedral – this is thought to be the oldest working example in the UK, with an unsubstantiated date of 1386. However, the actual foliot escapement is a modern addition. During my research of the clock, I came across a totally original verge foliot clock, which has certain features that are similar to the St Bartholomew clock. This clock is in the British Museum and dated 1600-1620. It was found in Dover Castle in 1851. Thomas Crofts, senior, is listed working 1759 to 1789, maker of clock watches and turret clocks. He had premises in Northbrook Street and eventually went into partnership with his son Thomas, who had premises in Bartholomew Street. The company was eventually granted a license to trade in Newbury in 1797. In 1827, Crofts charged 15 shillings to clean the clock in the alms houses and also around this time they made the clock for Kimbers Almshouses in Cheap Street for £65 (now demolished). John Joyce was born a little later, in March 1813, the son of a Boxford farmer. He is listed as working at 46 Northbrook Street, 1839 to 1866, employinig two clock makers and one apprentice, Edward Frome, born in Buckinghamshire. In 1866, Joyce moved to Donnington Square having passed on the busines to Alfred Stradling. John Joyce was well known as a

1972 by JD Owen, HV Beer and WJ Hassell, a local plumber. For a turret

Left, the turret clock face before it was restored and above left after

clock to run for 45 years with very few problems is quite remarkable and is a credit to their workmanship. However, after running for so many years the clock now needed a complete overhaul, which included the dial that had suffered badly from the effects of the weather. The job of making a new dial was undertaken by Chris Hardy at his joinery works. The wood he used is called Accoya, which has remarkable levels of stability and is also resistant to rot and warping. The actual painting of the dial and gilded roman numerals is the work of Paul Hetherton from Froxfield and is again a superb job, which should last for many years to come. Chris assembled the scaffolding and remounted the dial with the valuable help from his father Dave. And now the techy bits It was found that all the bearings had excessive wear and some had worn completely through onto the wrought-iron frame, this meant that all the shafts had to be skimmed in a lathe to remove the wear. In addition, new bearing bushes had to be made to suit. In order to prolong the life of the bearings, I chose to use a high-quality phosphor bronze instead of brass, which is the usual material used. The winding drum itself is not original, as at some time in the past the shaft has been cut off and forced in to a replacement wooden drum. This crude repair has become loose creating a massive hole in the wooden drum

restored shaft. It was also found that a steel sleeve, which had been welded to the frame was being used as a front end bearing of the drum, along with a steel spacer, plus a horseshoe-shaped piece of brass rod. The actual job of reassembling the clock was not without its problems, mainly due to the clock frame not being square. An additional challenged I faced was that it was not possible to take the entire clock home to work on. This, of course, meant that there was quite a bit of backwards and forwrds to my home to make the necessary adjustments. However, after about a month of intense work and long hours the clock is now running and seems to be keeping good time. I consider it to be an honour and a privilege to have been asked to restore the clock. a very interesting project, even if it was quite stressful at times. 

local preacher and died in 1896. Repairing the clock

There is a brass plaque mounted next to the clock, which states that it was restored in

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OA feature

The VERGE-AND-FOLIOT was the most common mechanism for controlling the descent of a weight in a weight-driven clock. The ESCAPEMENT is the mechanism that controls the transfer of energy from the power source to the counting mechanism. The FOLIOT is the earliest form of mechanical-clock escapement consisting of a crossbar with adjustable weights for regulating the rate of oscillation of a verge or vertical spindle. ACCOYA is a modified timber that has properties that match or exceed those of the best tropical hardwoods and treated woods, yet is manufactured using wood from sustainable sources.

Description of work carried out on the cable drum The drum has clearly been replaced at some time in the past as the original drum would have been made of a suitable hard wood. The method used for the conversion was somewhat crude, the original blacksmiths-made shaft with its integral ratchet has been cut short and used as the back bearing journal, where the shaft sits. This would have been acceptable other than the shaft diameter was a poor fit in the drum, creating massive wear in the wooden drum. I have turned the shaft and fitted a flanged bush in the wooden drum. The front bearing had a steel bush welded to the frame plate to compensate the thrusts from the winding ratchet. Using a steel bearing running on a steel shaft is not good practice, hence the bush had worn considerably. It was discovered that the replacement winding drum is not as wide as the original, and to overcome this, a previous repairer had added a steel spacer, plus a piece of bent rod to fill the gap. I have manufactured a phosphor bronze bush with a flange on the side to manage the thrust from the winding ratchet and also turned a new steel spacer the same length as the previous one.

Back bearing of the winding drum being turned to remove wear.

The original shaft now skimmed / polished, with new phosphor bronze bush bolted in place.

The winding drum before restoration.

New winding end assembly.

Original ratchet here.

Replacement ratchet.

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Bonfire bonanza November sees chillier weather and the excitement of bonfire night. HILARY SCOTT has some tips for fun bonfire party food, where the best organised firework displays are and we look at soup makers to keep you warm and cosy well into winter. Bonfire parties at home Collect your firewood, invite your friends and family and gather for a tasty bonfire night. Food BAKED POTATOES BBC’s Gardeners World tested different

Drinks Warm yourselves by the bonfire with one of these luscious drinks – a creamy Mexican hot chocolate or a spicy mulled cider MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE 2 100g bars good quality bittersweet chocolate 2 cinnamon sticks

varieties and found Vivaldi, Sant and Melody were best for baking. If you can’t get hold of those, try King Edward, Maris Piper or Golden Wonder. Don’t bake the spuds in foil, simply rub with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Cook at 200°C for 1hr – 1hr 20mins. But for a super crispy skin go for 180°C for 2hrs 20 mins. Then you can wrap in foil to keep warm on the outer edges of the bonfire. Fill with: chilli con carne or veggie chilli, tuna mayo, baked beans or cheese. Kids love scooped-out baked potatoes mixed with grated cheese and pickle and loaded back into the skins and flash grilled to make the top crispy. Or simply serve with lashings of butter and salt. Baked sweet potatoes can be topped with sour cream, yogurt or crumbled blue cheese. SAUSAGES Pick up some sausages from Griffins, the butcher on the bridge in Newbury. Choose from the original Newbury sausage or pork, apple and cider, Lincolnshire, venison and red wine. Or try Vicars Game sausages from Casey Field’s Farm Shop – they have a vast range from beef and Guinness, pheasant and pear to Merguez and Caribbean chicken. Use a deep-sided cast iron skillet to fry over the bonfire. The deep sides prevent the fat from landing in the fire or splattering you. Again you can keep them warm in foil. MARSHMALLOWS Make sure you use long forks or soaked wooden skewers to toast the mallows in the fire. For kids, put dishes of hundreds and thousands, caramel sauce, melted chcololate or biscuit crumbs for them to dip their gooey marshmallows in. For adults dipping into little glasses of Baileys Irish Cream liqueur make the mallows super gooey.

½ cup water 2 cups milk 1 cup double cream ½ tsp chili powder (optional) ½ tbsp light brown sugar (optional) Pinch of nutmeg

In a medium saucepan, melt the chocolate with the water and cinnamon sticks over medium high heat. Once the chocolate is melted, add the milk, cream, chili powder and sugar (if using), and the nutmeg. Stir until everything is combined. Once it boils, lower the heat to medium and let it cook until it thickens a little (about 5 minutes). If you think it’s too thick/sweet for you, add an extra cup of milk. SPICED CIDER 1.5ltr vintage cider 2 cinnamon sticks 4 cloves 2 star anise 4 tbsp ginger syrup (from a jar of stem ginger) 1 orange, 1/2 juiced and 1/2 sliced 3 tbsp light soft brown sugar Heat the vintage cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise in a large pan for a few minutes, then add the ginger syrup, the orange juice and slices and the sugar.

Bring to the boil, then simmer for five minutes. To serve, ladle into glasses and add an extra

cinnamon stick stirrer, orange slice and star anise to each, if you like. Recipe courtesy of Tesco

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